Protesters torch Mujibur Rehman’s house in Dhaka; can’t demolish history, says Sheikh Hasina

An event titled “Bulldozer Procession” was scheduled for 9 pm (local time), coinciding with an online programme where Hasina was slated to speak. The virtual event was announced by the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.

However, hundreds of protesters stormed the building and began taking it apart with shovels and hammers at around 8 pm, an hour before the planned procession. A mural of Mujib was also wrecked, the Daily Star quoted witnesses as saying.

“By around 9:30 pm, the building was set on fire. A little before midnight, at least one crane and one excavator reached the spot, and by the time this report was filed around 2:00am today, parts of the building were razed to the ground,” it was reported.

Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, Hasina said: “They can demolish a building, but not the history. History takes its revenge.”

She also urged the people of Bangladesh to stand against the interim government, accusing them of seizing power in an unconstitutional manner.

People watch as protesters torch the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Students Against Discrimination, had said, “Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from the grip of fascism.”

Tension has been continuing between the student protesters, along with the Army-backed interim government in Bangladesh, and the Awami League since August 5. Hasina was ousted following the student protests, and fled to India where she has taken refuge. The Bangladesh government has asked for her extradition, to which Delhi has not responded yet.